SECTION LINE

This function allows the user to create one or several section lines, measure section length, measure angle and show section lines. Click on this function, the program will display the dialog box as shown in Figure 5.1.13.

Figure 5.1.13  Select Option

5.1.7.1  CUT SECTION

This function allows the user to create one or several section lines. Section lines are a series of intersecting lines of cut plane and finite element mesh and surfaces. The generated section lines will be included in the new part. By default, the section lines for different parts are included in new parts respectively; the finite element mesh and surface section lines of one part will also be included in new parts respectively. The user is allowed to define the rules for placing section lines and the name of the new parts in the Edit Default Config dialog box (refer to Section 12.5 Preprocess->Section Cut). After clicking on this function, the program will pop up a dialog box as shown in Figure 5.1.14.

Figure 5.1.14  Define section plane

CS: Select the current coordinate system to define cut plane. The default option is the current coordinate system. The user can select the defined local coordinate system from the list, or click DEFINE to create a new local coordinate system. Refer to Section 2.5  LOCAL COORDINATE SYSTEM for detailed description about defining LCS.

 

X-Z PLANE: Use a plane horizontal to the XZ plane to cut section line.

 

Y-Z PLANE: Use a plane horizontal to the YZ plane to cut section line.

 

X-Y PLANE: Use a plane horizontal to the XY plane to cut section line.

 

X-AXIS: Rotate X-Z plane about X axis.

 

Z-AXIS: Rotate X-Z plane about Z axis. Different rotation axes appear if different coordinate planes are selected. For example, the rotation axes of YZ coordinate plane are Y axis and Z axis, the rotation axes of XY coordinate plane are X axis and Y axis.

 

NOTE: If LCS is selected, X, Y and Z axes are corresponding to U, V and W axes respectively.

ANGLE: rotation angle value.

 

CLEAR: Hide or display the section and the object to be cut.

 

SELECT SURFACES: Select surfaces to be cut.

 

SELECT ELEMENTS: Select elements to be cut.

 

SELECT LOC: Select the start point and end point. The value shown in the textbox is the relative location between the selected point and the selected coordinate plane.

 

BY NUM: The number of section lines.

 

BY INC: The increment between section lines.

 

TOLERANCE: Enter a threshold value. The program will mark the section line deviation at the same location of surface and mesh according to this threshold value, and highlight all the locations where the deviation value is greater than the threshold value. If the deviation of point at the same location on section line is less than this threshold value, the greatest deviation value will be highlighted.

The user can click APPLY to confirm the entry or click CLOSE to cancel the last operation.

 

5.1.7.2  MEASURE SECTION LENGTH

This function allows the user to measure section line length. After selecting the function, the program will pop up the dialog box as shown in Figure 5.1.15.

Figure 5.1.15  Select section dialog window

 

CURSOR LOCATION:

Select two points of the section line by cursor, and then the length of line segment will be displayed in the message prompt area.

 

LINE:

Select a section line by cursor, and then the length of section line will be displayed in the message prompt area.

 

REJECT LAST:

If selecting the point through CURSOR LOCATION function, the first selected point can be canceled by clicking this option.

 

5.1.7.3  MEASURE ANGLE

This function allows the user to measure angle between two straight lines. The line is defined by two selected points. The information about the measured angle is displayed in the message prompt area.

 

5.1.7.4  SECTION ON/OFF

This function allows the user to only display SECTION layer on the screen, and set SECTION layer to the current part layer.

 

5.1.7.5  SHOW SECTION LINE

This function is used to show the shape of each section line clearly in the 2D window. After creating section lines, click this option to display a dialog box with a list of the created section lines, as shown in Figure 5.1.16. Put the cursor on any column of the list and double click on the left mouse button, the corresponding serial numbers for all section lines will be displayed on the screen automatically. This function enables the user to delete or display the corresponding section lines conveniently.

Figure 5.1.16  Section Cut List

SHOW:  Show the shape of the selected section lines in 2D window, as shown in Figure 5.1.17.

Figure 5.1.17  2D window to show section lines

In this 2D window, the user can move the position for section lines displayed in the 2D window by using Ctrl + middle mouse button, as shown in Figure 5.1.18. The section lines can be scaled by using Ctrl + right mouse button, as shown in Figure 5.1.19. Use Grid to control the display of grid. The White button is used to control the background color of the window. If this option is cancelled, the background color is changed from white to black.

                      

Figure 5.1.18  Move Section Line                                                   Figure 5.1.19  Zoom out Section Line